As the Intel Architecture evolves with the addition of new generations and models of processors (8086, 8088, Intel286, Intel386, Intel486, Pentium® processors, Pentium OverDriveŽ processors, Pentium processors with MMX technology, Pentium OverDrive processors with MMX technology, Pentium Pro processors and Pentium II processors), it is essential that Intel provide an increasingly sophisticated means with which software can identify the features available on each processor.
This application note explains how to use the CPUID instruction in software applications, BIOS implementations, and various processor tools. By taking advantage of the CPUID instruction, software developers can create software applications and tools that can execute compatibly across the widest range of Intel processor generations and models, past, present, and future.